Weight Loss Success!  Glenda's Story

A few months ago, I read a story about a woman who had achieved something so incredible, I could not help but to read her story over and over again.  Each time I read it, my profound admiration for her and her phenomenal weight loss success as well as her journey, grew and grew.  If you look in the dictionary for the word "Success", Glenda's picture should be there.  This is a story about a woman who weighed  340 pounds.  She had not been able to tie her own shoes or even see her own feet in over 15 years… but she lost 197 pounds!  She says in her unbelievable story

"I was trapped in a body weighing in over 340 pounds and was ashamed of the fact that I had not been able to reach my feet for 15 years. I felt that God did not give me bones and joints to carry that amount of weight as a person 5'5" with a small frame.  My lifelong relationship with food, lifestyle choices and decisions dealing with life, heartache and disappointment brought me to where I was in January of 2008".

I wanted to put this story on my blog when I first read it, but because of computer problems, I never had a chance to bookmark it. Yesterday morning, I was reading an article "Dare to Walk 20 Minutes A Day" on the LiveSTRONG site and there she was…Glenda, holding up a pair of sweat pants that were three sizes larger than her tiny frame, which she once wore with no room to spare.  Now I could go on and on about this amazing weight loss story, but I will let you read it for yourself….and be inspired!

(Click on Inspiration And Motivation tab above to read this incredible story!)

 Obesity And The Dietary Guidelines For Americans

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans was released in January of this year.  The United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Health and Human Services offered up a number of brand new dietary and nutritional suggestions and recommendations, together with the objective of fighting the increasing weight and obesity crisis as well as equipping  Americans with the data and facts they need to live  healthier and stronger lifestyles on a day to day basis.

Although I have not read the Guidelines in it's entirety, there are a few items that I would like to share with you as I believe they are so very important in educating and combating the obesity epidemic as well as decreasing chronic diseases which are related to our diet choices.

In the introduction of the Guidelines, it was stated that the ultimate objective of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is to improve and enhance our Nations health and the health of future generations through assisting and promoting healthy and balanced eating habits, along with physical activity and exercise.  They have published these guidelines and options so that hopefully, most of our detrimental behaviors  will change and their suggestions and recommendations will become a foundation for not only reducing our obesity problem but, prevention of chronic diseases.  It is their hope that the guidelines will become the standard for every man, woman and child.

Inadequate diet as well as lack of exercise and physical inactivity happen to be the most crucial issues contributing to the crisis and epidemic associated with being overweight and obese in this nation.  The most current and latest facts reveal that 72% of adult men plus 64% of adult women are generally overweight or obese. About 1/3 of adults are sadly obese.  Also, even for those who do not have a weight problem, bad eating habits along with the absence of physical activity have been linked to Type 2 Diabetes, Osteoporosis and some types of Cancer.  

A number of racial as well as some ethnic groups are generally disproportionately affected by the high rates of unhealthy weight, obesity and connected chronic diseases.  Poor eating habits and   inadequate individual health and fitness programs have placed the focus on improved nutrition, diet, and physical activity options ever more critical.  These type of associations also provide vital opportunity to decrease health and wellness disparities through diet and nutrition, as well as physical activity modifications which have been  the major causes of morbidity and the death rate.

The Heavy Toll Of Diet – Related Chronic Disease

Below is an excerpt of the very powerful speech delivered by Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs.  If your are really concerned about your health and welfare and the health and welfare of your children along with the generations to come, …..please read. 

Cardiovascular Disease
• 81.1 million Americans—37 percent of the 13 population—have cardiovascular disease.  Major risk factors include high levels of blood cholesterol and other lipids, type 2 diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), metabolic syndrome, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, and tobacco use.
• 16 percent of the U.S. adult population has high 14 total blood cholesterol.

Hypertension
• 74.5 million Americans—34 percent of U.S. 15 adults—have hypertension.
• Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease.
• Dietary factors that increase blood pressure include excessive sodium and insufficient potassium intake, overweight and obesity, and excess alcohol consumption.
• 36 percent of American adults have prehypertension—blood pressure numbers that are higher than normal, but not yet in the hypertension range.

Next week, three more chronic diseases  caused primarily by poor eating habits and inactivity.

Related articles

• New Federal Dietary Guidelines will Increase Obesity and Chronic Disease (liberationwellnessblog.com)
• Supplement use increases, but a healthy diet is the key (mayoclinic.com)
• Calorie Balance – Make it Happen (foodfromthegarden.wordpress.com)
• The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans www.cnpp.usda.gov/DGAs2010-PolicyDocument.htm

Gluttony In America

Gluttony is defined by the dictionary as excessive eating and drinking".  However, metaphorically speaking, just about anything one does excessively is gluttonous.  Gluttony is all about excess, and in America, we  know all too well about  excess.  It was documented just 2 years ago, the typical American ingested over 200 pounds of meat annually, and that equates to more than 1/2 pound of some type of meat, each and every  day, 365 days a year. 

Food consumption habits have harmed our overall health and wellness but even more disturbing, our deplorable eating habits have drastically affected the health  of our kids for far too many years.  As  the majority of you  may already know, the obesity crisis is the #1 health topic these days due to the fact that obesity in America continues to grow out of control. Two out of every three adults are both overweight or obese. However, the worse part is, one out of every three youngsters fall into the same category, either severely overweight or obese.

What Have We Been Teaching Our Children?

We have actually been teaching our children the exact same detrimental eating habits and in the end, it is going to be our children who will truly suffer and  become sicker than we are already, they don't deserve it.  Here is another alarming fact for you to chew on. Over the past 40 years, obesity rates in America have escalated by 659%.  Can you wrap your head around that fact.?  It is almost incomprehensible

Super Sized And Sick

As a nation we are living in a fast food, microwave generation.  Americans eat so much more away from home today than at anytime in our country's history and it just gets worse.  Most restaurant food is far  less healthy for us compared to what we eat at home (sometimes).  On top of that, the portion sizes in most restaurants are gigantic and, for a few pennies more, your already humongous sized meals can be "Super Sized.   We have evolved into a nation of "Sick, Super Sized" people.

Economic Backlash

But gluttony is not just about the excessive, overwhelmingly massive amounts of food  we as Americans consume on a daily basis.  The economic backlash of obesity  is devastating. The high financial cost of obesity in America is at an  all time high.  Alarmingly, research shows that in America alone, obesity related illnesses claim over 850 lives a day and over 300,000 lives each year.  More than half our nation's population are well over their recommended weight  and qualify as obese.  Pediatric diabetes is fast approaching epidemic rates.  Do you know that the The United States spent $75.1 billion last year on medical expenses, such as drugs, doctor visits and hospitalizations, related to obesity according to a study published in the journal of Obesity Research. So what is the core cause?

Gluttony Is A Sin

America is a nation of gluttonous people and not only is it shameful, gluttony is a deadly sin, just like envy, greed, anger, sloth, etc.   Way back in the day, the early Christian monk Evagrius created a list which included "8 impure thoughts" but his list was later revised under Pope Gregory I to the "7 deadly sins".  During that era, a sin was only a "deadly sin" if it was in direct opposition  to one's love of God.  For instance, during those days, if you ate more than you needed, it was an excusable sin.  It only became "deadly when you so over indulged and ate so much just for the pleasure of eating, that it turned the individual away from spiritual instruction.  Back then, it you were considered  gluttonous. you were stoned to death.

Today, we not only turn a blind eye towards celebrities,  politicians and preachers  who publicly exhibit gluttonous behavior, but even worse, we applaud and embrace them.  So when we become obese or incur too many speeding tickets, or gamble away our lives savings putting our families in jeopardy or get caught in adultery, destroying the family,or beat our spouses or allow our children to eat what they want, when they want And always "Super Size" their meals……it has become simply… "The American Way".  Shame on us and sadly, shame on me.   

Why I'm Ranting

Why am I ranting? Because I'm fat, borderline obese and I'm pissed!   I recently started my own weight loss program and never having the need for a scale before, I just went out and bought one. (I promise I will tell you how much it says I weigh, but just keep in mind, like my friend Kris told me, scales are evil and they lie..smile).

During my research on how to correct my own weight gain, I have  come to truly understand the profound implications of what it  really means when I hear and read the word "obese".   So if you are overweight (like me) or even obese, or worse, you child is, I hope this video will help to motivate you into action…. Oh yeah, 216 lbs!  Oh Crap!

Azar Colter

Related articles

• My Experience with the American Idol! (http://craigsturm.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/my-experience-with-the-american-idol/)
• An End to the Age of Gluttony (http://www.robertringer.com/gluttony.html)
• THE HIGH PRICE OF AMERICA'S GLUTTONY (http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd15.htm )